Photo by Beaumont Palmer New this year, at Heathwood Hall, is the Alpine Tower… climbing, ropes, walking beams. Students engage in some risk- taking and leadership training while they tackle this challenge. While a search committee carries out its mission to bring on board a new permanent headmaster, Anne Weston and Stephen Mandell have charged all their batteries to see that no momentum is lost in the Episcopal school's ambitious agenda.

Heathwood has called on these two, both already staff members, to share the leadership for this interim year.

"We don't plan to miss a beat," says Dr. Weston. "This school always has something innovative going on, and we expect to keep it moving ahead. It's going to be a stimulating year for us."

Anne Weston and Steve Mandell have served on Heathwood's faculty and staff as teachers, counselors, and administrators. Sports and athletics have been part of their responsibilities along with academics and administration. They look forward to an active year with some new facilities coming into play.

Anne Weston "Heathwood Hall this year has its largest enrollment ever, approximately 874 students. Part of our challenge is to decide how large we can grow without losing the intimate ratios of staff to students. We don't plan to be a mega- school. We have more applications now than ever before, but we want to maintain our individualized focus on each student."

Along with this increased enrollment, Heathwood claims a greater diversity than ever in its student body. Minority enrollments have doubled in the past four years, making it among the most diverse in the state.

Interestingly, this Christian school demonstrates that diversity in its new team of leadership: Anne Weston is a lifelong Episcopalian, Stephen Mandell is Jewish.

"Our school welcomes all faith traditions," says Dr. Weston. "We are proud of our Christian heritage and our unique chapel, where we have services once a week. But we learn from others and respect their differences.

We apply the term diversity to more than the ethnicity and beliefs of our students. We have a commitment also to all socio- economic levels and work to maintain financial aid for qualified students."

Steve Mandell Steve Mandell teaches a course in world religions as well as urban studies and world history. Both headmasters are involved in Heathwood's lively Outdoor Education curriculum.

"Ten years ago a coach here, Stan Wood, developed a program we call PEAK: Pursuit of Environmental Advancement and Knowledge," says Mandell. "We are blessed with a large campus with extensive natural resources, including a pond on- site. New this year, we have a structure we call the Alpine Tower… climbing, ropes, walking on beams. Our students engage in some risk- taking and leadership training while they tackle this challenge."

Last summer for the first time, Heathwood partnered with EdVenture Museum for weekend programs. Young children explore the nature aspects of the pond with its frogs, turtles, and plant life. They also work in Heathwood's greenhouse, where they nurture plants while learning the natural sciences.

Photo by Beaumont Palmer Steve Mandell and Anne Weston, co- headmasters at Heathwood Hall School. Recycling and environmental science are part of everyday life at the school. "We want Heathwood students to graduate from here with knowledge of and interest in the global world," the headmasters agree.